“You have to have a passion for what you’re doing to be a nurse.”
— Alison Stevens // SSU Class of 2017 and SOMC Heart Care Nurse
Alison Stevens saw the difference that a nurse could make early in her life.
Her mother and her sister are both nurses.
“I had a lot of influence in my life,” she said. “I always loved coming to SOMC to visit my mom growing up. I knew this is where I wanted to be.”
She says she enjoys the diverse aspects of nursing, the opportunities it has given her to continue to grow and expand her skills, and caring for people during good times and bad times. That’s something she says is difficult to learn in textbooks. That’s why clinical experiences, mentorship programs, and the nursing internship that SOMC offers Shawnee State students is so important.
“The classroom gives you a strong foundation, but you learn how to actually be a nurse here in the hospital setting. You learn what it takes to take care of a patient in difficult situations. How to be a good co-worker and how to be a good team member. Those are all things it takes to be a good nurse.”
The pandemic challenged nurses and strengthened the support they have for one another as members of the same team – whether working on the same unit or not.
“I can’t imagine what my co-workers in ICU were going through,” Alison said. “They were rock stars.”
She encourages those considering nursing to look at each different field and the opportunities within the profession.
“There are so many things you can do in nursing,” she said.
She appreciates that her professors at Shawnee State shared their past experiences, exposed her to different areas of nursing, provided hands-on learning, and expanded her idea of necessary nursing knowledge.
“I received a very well-rounded education in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program,” she said. “At first, I didn’t see how courses in psychology, English and sociology related to nursing care. I didn’t realize how much that knowledge would help me day-to-day.”
